25 May 2023
Memorial Day Weekend: What to Know for 2023
Planning a Memorial Day Weekend trip to experience the best of Cedar City and the beautiful spaces around us? With a crazy snowpack from last season, a Memorial Day visit in 2023 is going to look a little different than previous years. And while some of the usual camping spots and attractions (most places on Cedar Mountain) are still thawing/drying out, there are still some incredible places to see and stay!
Plan Ahead for your visit using the quick guide included below, and find additional information’s using the links throughout.
Visit responsibly. Visit safely. And most importantly, let wonder be your guide.
Camping This Weekend
High Elevations : Ummmm…. probably not.
Low Elevations: Oh definitely!
While many of our high elevation camping areas (like Point Supreme, Deer Haven, and Duck Creek) are a bit soggy, or still covered in snow, there are some great spaces in the valley surrounding Cedar City and Parowan that are open to camping, both developed and dispersed!
Camp with a unique red rock background at the Pyramid Ridge Campground. Or immerse yourself in a little high-desert environment with a stay in Three Peaks Recreation Area at either the Rocky Peak Campground or the first-come first-serve Iron County campsites in the recreation area. There is also dispersed camping available near the Parowan Gap Petroglyphs historic site.
*Reservations are needed in advance for Pyramid Ridge and Rocky Peak campgrounds.
Trails & Recreation to Keep in Mind
High Elevations: đź‘€
Low Elevations: Disc golf, mountain biking, shopping, arts, hiking, dining…..
This weekend is a great time to explore some new destinations in and around Cedar City! While we give the mountains and high elevation attractions near us a minute, there are some great lesser-known destinations just outside city limits.
Did you know that Cedar City has three disc golf courses? And Parowan has one at the base of Parowan Canyon! The hiking trails in Thunderbird Gardens lead to unique rock formations and brilliant red rock views. There’s mountain biking available in Three Peaks and the Southview Trail System. A paved network of walking/all-purpose trails winds its way around Cedar City. The Lake at the Hills is a great local spot for fishing and kayaking. OHV trails crisscross everywhere west of Cedar City, from Three Peaks to the Parowan Gap and in between. Plus, no matter what the season, we always have stunning dark skies.
There’s so much to do!
And don’t forget the amazing local shops, restaurants, bars, brewery, winery, and vibrant murals throughout downtown. 🙌
Nearby National Parks – What to Know
Our team believes that being prepared leads to the best experience, and we want you to love your visit to Cedar City. So this means we want you to be prepared for closures, long lines, and anything of the sort that can upset a carefully outlined itinerary. So let’s talk National Parks and those around us. 👇
Cedar Breaks National Monument
In 2022 Cedar Breaks received 217% of normal snowpack for their winter season. (!) While we are all excited about the extra snow (and water to help ease drought conditions in our state) this means that they are a little off-schedule in opening for the season.
Hwy 148 through Cedar Breaks to Brian Head is not expected to open until June 16th. Summer visitor services at the Temporary Information Center and park store will open June 16th as well. Point Supreme Campground will not open until June 30th and we don’t expect to see trails open until late June/Early July.
Kolob Canyons | North Zion National Park
The beautiful (and less traveled) north side of Zion National Park is one of our favorite local destinations. Due to a large rockslide further up the five-mile scenic drive, Kolob Canyons Road is only open to the Taylor Creek Middle Fork Trail.
This means that parking is limited to the Visitor Center and the Taylor Creek Middle Fork Trail head. It also means that trails like the Timber Creek Overlook are not easily accessible. So prepare for extra crowds on the Taylor Creek Trail and limited parking.
KOLOB CANYONS ROAD is Partially Closed Due to Road Damage
nps.gov/planyourvisit/kolob-canyons-wilderness-hiking-trails
Timber Creek Overlook and La Verkin Creek trailheads are past the road closure. Drivers cannot travel past South Fork Picnic Area. Hikers or bikers can travel on the closed part of the road at their own risk. Be mindful of the damaged area. You can see a photo of the road damage in this news release.
Zion National Park
From the park themselves, here are a few things to note about a Memorial Day Weekend visit to Zion National Park:
“Heads up drivers! Visiting Zion this Memorial Day Weekend? You’re in good company! We expect to welcome tens of thousands of people per day.
During holiday weekends, our goal in Zion Canyon is to keep shuttle buses moving. When all parking is full, to prevent gridlock that stops shuttle service, rangers may temporarily direct you to park outside of Zion.
When this happens, you cannot drive across the park, so you need to plan ahead by checking road conditions. Get online at go.nps.gov/ZionConditions so you know before you go!
If you want to get to trails, ride the Springdale Line Shuttle and walk or bike in to the park. The park pedestrian entrance will remain open all weekend.
See you soon!”
